ScotRail have teamed up with Santa himself to support Railway Children. Book your tickets now for a festive family experience.
Date: 1st October 2020
This December, ScotRail will be running their very own Santa Express for Rail Aid, the rail industry fundraising initiative in support of Railway Children.
The Santa Express will be dressed up to the nines in Christmas cheer, and Santa himself will be taking a break from his festive preparations at the North Pole to join us on board, handing out presents to all the children.
Rail Aid was launched in direct response to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has forced the cancellation of our biggest annual fundraiser, the Railway Ball.
The impact of the pandemic on vulnerable young people has made our work more vital than ever. Rail Aid, dubbed ‘the railway’s answer to Children In Need’, has called on the rail industry to fundraise in support of our life-saving work.
ScotRail has answered that call in style, and all proceeds of their fantastic Santa Express trips will come to Railway Children.
David Simpson, ScotRail Operations Director, said:
“We are delighted to be launching Christmas 2021 with Santa and the Railway Children charity. It’ll be great to see the faces of all the children, and maybe the parents too, when Father Christmas hands out presents to them on the train. These Santa Express trains will be a brilliant addition to the festive fun in the lead up to the big day.”
The first Santa Express will leave the famous Edinburgh Waverley station on Saturday, 4 December at 08.58, taking in a section of the heritage railway line. From there the Santa train will continue along the Strathspey Railway – a restored section of the original Highland Railway – through the stunning Cairngorms scenery to Boat of Garten, before eventually heading back to Edinburgh.
On 11 and 18 December, the Santa Express will leave Edinburgh Waverley and travel around the Fife Circle line. On both of these dates there will be a Santa Express train each morning, and another in the afternoon.
Railway Children’s CEO Terina Keene said:
“Thank you so much to ScotRail for supporting us with this lovely, festive event. It should be a brilliant experience for everyone and a great start to the Christmas season at the same time as raising funds to help us reach vulnerable children and families around the world.
Railway Children will join partners from the Rooted Futures collaboration at the 2026 Skoll World Forum to lead an interactive session on family strengthening and child protection reform.
Over 200 supporters from the rail industry raised more than £60,000 at Railway Children’s Night At The Station event, spending a night in stations across the UK to protect vulnerable children at risk.
Through our flagship youth participation programme, Youth Platform, young people are shaping our training materials, influencing key decisions and ensuring the rail industry truly understand youth vulnerability.
No child wants to survive on the streets. And, through understanding and empowerment, together, we can ensure no child has to.
Julia, 24, grew up as a boy but knew, early on, that the gender she’d been born into was not who she was. Here, she talks to Youth Platform about her journey, and what she wishes she’d know as a ten-year-old boy.
Reflecting on the unique strengths different minds bring to Railway Children and the rich potential of the neurodivergent young people we support.
